Part 12 (1/2)

”All right, let's finish this job as soon as possible,” Bud proposed, as he started toward a thicket of bushes and s in hareneral move toward the interior The thicket, however, proved to be only about twenty feet in depth, and beyond this was a clear area a quarter of an acre in extent

”Soo,” Cub announced, as he pressed forward eagerly toward the center of the open area

”Yes, and a tent has stood right here,” said Mr Perry, indicating several guy-rope stakes driven in the ground

”Whoever it was didn't leave o,” Hal declared

”See how the grass is tramped down around here?”

”What's this?” exclaih which they had passed and picked up a pole about ten feet long and two inches thick

Mr Perry and the other two boys rushed forward and er exa,” said Bud significantly as he called attention to several worn places at both ends and the s or wire held close around it under a strain

”There's another just like this one over there,” cried Hal, suddenly darting forward toward a slender pine tree about a hundred feet away and standing a short distance out from the thicket border of the open area

Mr Perry, Cub, and Bud rushed after Hal, who picked up, under the pine tree, a pole almost the exact duplicate of the one found by Bud After a careful examination of them both, Mr Perry announced:

”It looks to me, boys, as if you had discovered the spreaders of a dereed ”Somebody used this tree and that one over there as ood for aerial ht if you have your insulation well out beyond the branches,” said Cub

”Yes, that's true,” Bud admitted ”And look up there--see that wire? The felloho took down this aerial didn't do his work very well”

All looked up in the tree and saire hanging down a to be attached at the farther end near the top of the pine

”It was probably done in a hurry,” Mr Perry observed

”And that is one u for,” said Bud

”Yes, but the felloe caone to,” added Cub

”Still, don't you think the search has been worth while?” the latter's father inquired

”I do,” put in Hal, who had been noticeably quiet and meditative since the last very important discovery ”This ot from the island was no fake affair?”

”Why?” asked Bud

”Why!” flashed Hal ”It's plain enough toto attack him, probably overpowered him and swept away his camp, radio outfit, and all”

”And what did they do with hier for the last chapter of the plot